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OVPR Funds for Research and Scholarship
Bridging Support for Research Faculty
PURPOSE:This funding provides temporary salary and fringe benefit support for research faculty who experience a temporary gap in external funding due to factors beyond their control.OVPR complements and supplements --but does not replace -- funding for this purpose that is provided by the schools, colleges, institutes and centers of the University. Funds will be awarded at the discretion of the Vice President for Research, within available funds.
A key element in the awarding of funds will be the employing unit's commitment to the research program and continuing employment of the research faculty member.
ELIGIBILITY: A table has been prepared that outlines the level of bridging support eligibility according to rank and years of service at the University of Michigan. A minimum commitment of a dollar-for-dollar match is expected from the research faculty member's home unit as part of all requests to the Office of the Vice President for Research for bridging support.
These funds are not intended to cover severance pay or terminal leaves for researchers who will not continue employment at the University. Research faculty employed by the Institute for Social Research are not eligible to apply.
Research faculty in the above ranks holding joint research and non-tenured instructional appointments may apply for bridging support for the research appointment. (Research faculty holding joint research and tenured instructional appointments are not eligible for bridging support.) Part-time research faculty in these ranks may apply for bridging support for their part-time appointment if the duration of service requirements are met. "Courtesy Appointments" (research faculty appointments without funding) do not confer eligibility.
INELIGIBLE FACULTY:
These funds are not intended to cover severance pay or terminal leaves for researchers who will not continue employment at the University. Research faculty employed by the Institute for Social Research are not eligible. "Courtesy Appointments" (research faculty appointments without funding) do not confer eligibility.
NATURE OF SUPPORT: OVPR bridging support is intended to cover only the salary and fringe benefits of the researcher. Funding for other research expenses should be sought from a researcher's units, or other regular sources of UM research funds (e.g., Biomedical Research Support Grants in the health science schools; OVPR programs for research and scholarship support; other internal funding sources), or from external sources.
BUDGET: Submit a budget for the total salary/fringe for the faculty researcher for the requested bridging period. A minimum commitment of a dollar-for-dollar match is expected from the research faculty member's home unit as part of all requests to the Office of the Vice President for Research for bridging support. This cost sharing is to be included on the budget breakdown, indicating whether confirmed or pending, before submitting the application to OVPR.
EVALUATION CRITERIA: Criteria in the evaluation of bridging support applications will include:
- the quality and significance of the researcher's work;
- the researcher's past experience in obtaining external support for his/her work;
- the researcher's potential for obtaining such support in the future;
- evidence that the applicant has a grant application which is expected to be funded in the near future (1-6 months) by an external agency;
- evidence that the researcher's work is in keeping with unit and institutional priorities; and
- a statement by the applicant's employing unit as to the applicant's continued employment.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants for bridging support should submit five (5) copies of the OVPR Faculty Grants and Awards Program application form (see below). The brief (no more than ten pages) proposal narrative should include:
- a discussion of the circumstances which have led to the need for bridging support;
- a description of any previous OVPR bridging support (amounts, dates);
- a description of the activities the applicant intends to undertake during the period for which bridging support is requested; and
- a description of the applicant's proposed program of research for the next 2 years, along with a discussion of the prospects for obtaining external funds for this work.
In addition, the applicant should include the following:
- a list of external funding received by the applicant in the last five years (title of project, sponsor, amount, duration);
- a list of pending internal/external proposals submitted by the applicant (present title of project,sponsor, amount, duration, anticipated decision date, DRDA proposal number); and
- a statement from the chair or director of the employing unit (for the research faculty appointment) regarding: the relationship between the applicant's proposed research directions and the priorities of the unit; the commitment of the employing unit to the continued employment of the applicant if external resources are made available; and the support which has been or will be made available by the employing unit to address the current gap in external funding.
DEADLINES: the 15th of February, April, June, August, October or December. Notification of funding decisions is made within 8 weeks of the receipt of the application in OVPR. Note: all signatures are required before processing begins. Summer months may mean delays. Consultation with OVPR is advised.
APPLICATIONS
Download the OVPR Faculty Grants and Awards Program Application Form
from the Forms Page.
Request the application form from Cynthia Avery, avery@umich.edu
Send completed application to:
Faculty Grants and Awards Program
Office of the Vice President for Research
4080 Fleming Administration Building 1340
See: More information on peer reviews, application hints, and award terms.
Contact: Office of the Vice President for Research (763-2080)